Ecuador & Galapagos: 17 to Infinity

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Our new Ecuador & Galapagos 17 to Infinity family vacation adventure provides constant options between more active and more relaxed activities. Based around freedom of choice and catered specifically to families with young adult kids, there’s no type of traveler this itinerary can’t please. Whether you’re up for an adventure, tired from your last or just looking to take it easy in some breathtaking settings, our sophisticated new Ecuadorian escape always has something to suit you and your older teens’ and 20-somethings’ moods.

Go on an exploratory bike ride throughout the colonial city of Cuenca, or visit a traditional ceramics workshop and make your own souvenir. Horseback ride through a rustic highland landscape, or opt instead to attend a demonstration in local cooking, learning about the blending of traditional indigenous ingredients and colonial Spanish influence. Swim and snorkel with sea lions around volcanic rock formations, or choose to simply relax and enjoy a good book under a coconut palm on the beach.

This revolutionary Ecuadorian adventure takes the idea of variety to a whole new level, so every member of your maturing family can get the utmost enjoyment out of your visit to this incredibly multi-faceted location.

Private departures are available on the dates of your choice, depending on availability.

Alumni Discount: if you are a returning Thomson guest, please subtract $500 per family from these prices

Prices are based on the number of people in your booking party.

Price includes: All entrance fees, accommodations based on two to a room; land transportation, private bi-lingual guide throughout, area specialists, most meals, bottled water & snacks,Comprehensive Travel Insurance.

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Day 1 – Depart U.S. / Arrive Guayaquil

Welcome to Ecuador! This 17 to Infinity family adventure is based around variety and designed to please every type of adult and young adult traveler. We offer choices between more active and more relaxed activities, so whether you and your older teen and 20-something kids prefer history and culture or action and adventure, there’s always an option for you.

Days 2-4 – Cuenca

Leaving behind coastal Guayaquil, we’ll venture up into the Andean Highlands. Rolling hillsides nestle the ruins of lost civilizations such as the Cañari, a sophisticated society of astronomers who ruled this area for a thousand years before being conquered by the Incas. The Incas controlled the Andean Highlands for less than a century; the Spanish arrived in the 1530s, and by 1557 the rubble of Incan buildings was being used to create the colonial city of Cuenca. Throughout this trip, we have our days and activities split so that we have something for every interest and activity level.

Our Mornings:

Mangrove reserve boat trip for everybody

Cojitambo Mountain and school trip

Horseback riding OR local cooking demo

Our Afternoons:

Rock climbing OR Biblian and Panama hat weavers

Afternoon hot springs and farewell to Cuenca

Welcome to Darwin’s Enchanted Islands…

Never connected to the mainland of South America, the Galapagos Islands were formed entirely through volcanic activity. Eruptions here can be almost annual, with the majority of volcanic activity being in the younger, westerly islands.

Days 5-6 – Isabela Island

Isabela is the largest island in the Galapagos – bigger than all the rest combined. It is comprised of five major volcanoes, two of which are still active.

Tortoise Breeding Center

Frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, flamingos, and other birds

Underwater volcanic caves and tunnels at Los Tuneles

Hike on Tintoreras, with marine iguanas and reef sharks

Lobería Chica and swimming with sea lions

Or... relaxing day option

Days 7-8 – Santa Cruz Island

The Galapagos’ second-largest island, Santa Cruz is very biologically diverse. It is home to the archipelago’s largest human population, a massive array of animal life, and several different vegetation zones, like coastal, arid, transition, scalesia and miconia.

Daphne Islands visit

See giant tortoises up close

Bahia Ballena visit

Relaxed day option – lounge on the beach

Day 9 – Galapagos Islands / Guayaquil

After one more activity in the Galapagos, we say goodbye to these enchanted isles and hello to mainland Ecuador once again!

Farewell dinner

Day 10 – Depart Guayaquil / Arrive U.S.

Wyndham Guayaquil

The Wyndham Hotel in Guayaquil is located just steps from the historic Santa Ana Hill, its famous lighthouse, and the Malecon 2000. Guests to this Guayaquil hotel can stay fit at the state-of-art fitness center or relax with a swim in the heated outdoor pool, which proffers glorious views of the city from the 9th floor terrace. Each of its 179 over-sized guest rooms includes thoughtful amenities like plush pillow top bedding, down pillows, minibar, floor -to-ceiling windows, bathrobe, digital safe and 43 inch flat screen satellite TV.

Mansion Alcazar

Mansión Alcázar, situated in the center of the quaint, old-fashioned city of Cuenca, oozes all the classical charm and grandeur one would expect from a renovated 1870s mansion. The hotel is beautifully decorated in an elegant colonial style, from the wrought iron balcony to the antique furniture, the crystal chandelier to the fountain and grand piano. Even the enchantingly colonial guest rooms have long drapes and chandeliers. Mansión Alcázar also has a bar called Le Bar and a restaurant called Casa Alonso, with an accomplished local chef cooking gourmet cuisine from Ecuador and elsewhere.

Iguana Crossing

Iguana Crossing is located on the southern part of the island, with only National Park beyond it. The hotel is the only one on Isabela with an oceanfront swimming pool, and each of its rooms features great views of either the beachfront or Sierra Negra Volcano. Iguana Crossing also has central air conditioning, wireless internet, laundry facilities, rooftop Jacuzzi, and a restaurant and bar. Rooms here feature a flat screen TV, alarm clock with an iPod dock, hair dryer, safety deposit box, and tasteful, rustic design.

Angermeyer Waterfront Inn

The Angermeyer Waterfront Inn offers top-notch comfort and all the necessary amenities amid constant reminders that you’re still in the Galapagos Islands, one of the most unique places in the world. The inn was built using lava rocks and drift wood for that authentic Galapagos feel, and each spacious room is equipped with cable television, air conditioning, and a private bathroom. Located just a 2-minute water taxi ride from the bustling Puerto Ayora, the property has its own dock and a waterfront restaurant prime for observing sea lions, sea turtles, and marine iguanas.

Please Note:Thomson Family Adventures will attempt to adhere to this itinerary and its hotels as much as possible. However, certain conditions (political, climatic, environmental, cultural, or availability) may necessitate changes in the accommodations.

Why Ecuador and the Galapagos?

When you think of Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands surely come to mind. Stunning beauty and an abundance of wildlife are the trademarks of these volcanic islands. For years to come, you and your family will reminisce about all of the wonderful species you saw on these islands – many of which are found nowhere else on earth.

The Galapagos Islands are home to more than 25,000 species of plants, 6,000 species of butterflies and 1,600 species of birds. On Santa Cruz Island, enormous tortoises find refuge at the Charles Darwin Research Station. Tiny Rabida Island is home to pelicans, pink flamingos and pintail ducks in its shallow salt water lagoons and red sand beaches. On San Cristobal, the incredible wildlife includes iguanas and the rare Chatham mockingbird. Walking on lovely, remote Española Island, your family may encounter sea lions, blue-footed boobies or sea turtles as you stroll past lava cliffs where sea water jets high in the air.

Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos Islands in 1835 on his return to England after repatriating the Fuegians. He collected various birds, which he took back to John Gould, a famous ornithologist, in England. While Darwin initially thought the birds were not closely related, Gould concluded that the birds were in fact, "a series of ground Finches which are so peculiar" as to form "an entirely new group, containing 12 species." This story made the newspapers and formed the basis for Darwin’s groundbreaking theory.

Famous for the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador’s Andean Highlands are often overlooked. With a history dating as far back as 3,500 B.C. and a stunning landscape, the area north of Quito is a hidden gem. From the rolling highlands and snow capped peaks of the Ecuadorian Andes to the villages where locals are happy to share their ancient culture and traditions, to an indigenous Latin American market where local artisans sell Panama hats, colorful handmade weavings and sweaters, the highlands are not to be missed.

We take family vacations to get away from the daily grind of our normal lives and just be with our families. The Galápagos Islands offer the perfect opportunity to leave it all behind and enjoy each other’s company. Many of the islands you’ll visit are virtually uninhabited by humans, because they are protected lands of delicate ecological splendor, so you will be far away from any kind of hustle and bustle.

Why Ecuador and the Galapagos with Thomson?

Our Ecuador and Galapagos for Everyone itinerary gives you and your older teens and 20-somethings so many choices, so it’s downright difficult not to have a good time on this trip. Whether you’re in the mood for something active or something more relaxed, there will be an option for you.

Families with young adults in their late teens and 20s want to travel with other families in the same range; there's just much more for them to do together and it's far easier for them to relate to and have fun with each other. So when we realized that some of our clients thought their young adult kids were too old to travel with us, it became quite clear that we needed to create a specific category of trips just for these families. It's very rewarding for young adults to rekindle that closeness with mom and dad, and to be able to come together with other families at the same stage for a more sophisticated, mature family adventure.

Cuenca is a fascinating and very easy-on-the-eyes little city. The mix of cultural influences resulting from Cuenca’s long history makes for such a unique feel, you’ll never want to leave. With a Spanish colonial base, strong French influences, and a history rooted in the ancient Inca and Cañari cultures, Cuenca is as charmingly multi-faceted as this itinerary!

When was the last time your extended family got together? A Thomson trip is the perfect way for your entire family – near and far – to spend time with relatives that you might not see as often as you would like. Pick a destination and a date, and we’ll do the rest! Let Thomson help you plan the perfect family reunion amidst the beauty and splendor of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.

While in the Andean highlands, our expert mountaineers (yes, we even have expert mountaineers!) will show you the ropes and help you learn how to rock climb at Cojitambo – a mountain sacred to the area’s Cañari people. Rock climbing is phenomenal exercise, a rewarding challenge, and an excellent way to experience the region’s scenery.